Toto Wolff backs Verstappen as Mercedes pushes for race date change ahead of Nurburgring bid
Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff has reportedly stepped in to support Max Verstappen’s ambition to compete in the iconic Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2026, with a formal request now submitted to adjust the race schedule that currently blocks the Dutchman’s participation.
Verstappen is set to return to the Formula 1 grid in under two months when the 2026 season gets underway, marking the beginning of a new era under F1’s revised technical regulations. For the first time since his title-winning streak began, the Red Bull driver will no longer carry the coveted No.1 on his car after losing the 2025 drivers’ championship to McLaren’s Lando Norris. Instead, Verstappen will race with the No.3, while Norris leads the field as reigning world champion when all 22 drivers debut their next-generation machinery.
The upcoming season promises to be one of the most demanding in recent memory. The 2026 calendar opens with consecutive races in Australia and China before the championship heads to Japan, creating a tightly packed early schedule that presents challenges for drivers balancing commitments outside Formula 1.
Despite renewed speculation last year linking Verstappen with a potential move to Mercedes, the 28-year-old has since reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull. He remains under contract with the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of 2028 and has repeatedly stated that a switch before then is highly improbable. However, one non-F1 opportunity has clearly captured his interest: making his long-awaited debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race.
Red Bull have already signalled their willingness to allow Verstappen to pursue the endurance classic, acknowledging its value both as a personal ambition and a learning opportunity. Yet one significant obstacle remains. To be eligible for the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Verstappen must first compete in a race of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), and the opening NLS round currently clashes with his Formula 1 commitments.
According to Motorsport-Total.com, Mercedes-AMG has now submitted an official request to NLS organisers seeking a postponement of the season-opening NLS1 event. If approved, the change would clear the final hurdle preventing Verstappen from lining up at the legendary 24-hour race.
Mercedes-AMG’s involvement is particularly notable given Verstappen’s status as a Red Bull driver. The manufacturer’s Winward Racing outfit has already confirmed plans to contest six NLS events this year, including the 24-hour race itself. Ongoing discussions reportedly centre on the possibility of adding another entry, which could provide Verstappen with a platform to make his Nurburgring debut in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
NLS managing director Mike Jäger has played down suggestions that a schedule change is already confirmed. Speaking about the situation, he clarified that only a request has been lodged at this stage. “The request for a possible postponement has now been submitted, but nothing more than that,” Jäger said.
Should the proposal be accepted, NLS1 would likely be moved back by a single week, rescheduling the race to March 21. That adjustment would place the event neatly between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, making Verstappen’s participation logistically feasible. However, Jäger stressed that any decision must consider all stakeholders involved. “We are currently reviewing the situation, but nothing has been decided yet. It has to work for everyone,” he added.
While the final approval is still pending, Verstappen has wasted no time preparing as if the plan will go ahead. Earlier this week, he logged additional mileage in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 during a test at Portimão, continuing his endurance racing preparations with 2 Seas Motorsport. The session came just days before he travelled to Detroit to attend Red Bull’s official launch of their 2026 Formula 1 car.
Whether the schedule change is ultimately granted or not, Wolff’s reported intervention highlights the growing respect Verstappen commands across the paddock—and the shared interest in seeing one of Formula 1’s biggest stars take on one of endurance racing’s most demanding challenges.
